Mob was protesting against police inaction over resident’s death

An angry mob torched a banquet hall and several shops near the Karkardooma metro railway station here on Saturday.

They were protesting against the alleged police inaction following the death of Arya Nagar resident Rakesh Dayal, whose body was found near the Karkardooma courts around 1.30 a.m.

The situation in the area was tense after news of the death spread in the morning. Things got worse in the afternoon after rumour went around that the police were refusing to register a case in connection with Rakesh’s death. A mob gathered near the court and soon moved towards the metro station and vandalised the banquet hall, setting it on fire. The fire gradually spread to nearby shops. The police had to resort to lathi-charge to disperse the crowd.

The fire affected Delhi Metro service between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., especially between Yamuna Bank and Vaishali stations. Even after services resumed, trains did not stop at Karkardooma station for some time in the evening.

Rakesh’s brother Amit Dayal alleged that the police were not allowing the body of his brother to be taken home and insisting that his last rites be performed at Nigambodh Ghat in the night itself. Mr. Dayal also alleged that the banquet hall owner was responsible for his brother death.

“The banquet hall owner is responsible for my brother’s death after a small fight arose over balloons. After the fight, the bouncers of the owner of Red Carpet banquet hall beat him up so badly that he died due to a head injury. That was what the doctors told us when he was taken to the nearby hospital,” said Mr. Dayal, alleging the police were not acting against the owner of the banquet hall as he was an influential person.